Torpedo-guard.



A. M. EVANS.

TORPEDO GUARD.

APPLICATION mm 0012a, 1914.

Patented. May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

ammo. H-[WEVHNQ 1 A. M. EVANS.

TORPEDO GUARD.

APPLICATION r1110 OCT. 28. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AUSTIN evens; or ro'rrs CAMP, MISSISSIPPI.

TORPED O-GUAIRD.

Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented May ii, iois.

eppiicution filed October 28, 1914. Serial No. 869,058.

To 5Z1 whom it may concern Be it known that-I, AUsTiN' M. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Potts lam in the county of Marshall and State of ll ississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo- Gruards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. 7

This invention relates to certain improvements in guards and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with vessels; and the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved guard capable of being positioned. in advance of a vessel in order to protool; the some against injury from marine explosives, such as are generally employed in thetime of war.

The invention consists in the details of construct-ion and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved guard whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and other wise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a guard constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the coacting bow portion of the vessel being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device as illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the device as herein set forth; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view illustrating one of the hook members herein embodied; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. i.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, V denotes the bow portion of a vessel such. as a man-of-war, and to which is pivotally engaged at substantially the waterline thereof, the forwardly directed spaced arms 1 which also have pivotally engaged with the forward extremities thereof the extension arms 22. The outer ends of the as is clearly shown in Figs. 4: and 5,

extension arms 2 are tied or connected by the cross arm 4 of a length to extend beyond the opposite sides of the extension "arms and has suitably secured thereto a chain fabric 8 or the like which, when the arms 1 with their extension arms Qare extended forwardly into substantially a horizontal position, is of such a length as to extend below the surface of the water and thus be caused to contact with any mines which may be placed in the water.

In order that the arms 1 with their extension arms 2 may be raised or lowered with convenience so that the chain fabric may be disposed into operative or inoperative adjustment as desired, I suitably anchor to the forward extremities of the extension arms 2 the flexible members 55 which are directed inwardly and through suitable guides 6 on the arms 1-1 and upwardly u on the deck of the vessel and engaged with a winch 8, or the like, of conventional arrangement. It will be readily perceived ble members 5 -5, the requisite adjustment of the chain fabric may be accomplished with convenience and facility.

In order to assure the arms 1 maintaining the substantially horizontal position, I employ the flexible, members 9 anchored at one extremity to thebow of the vessel V and at their opposite extremities to the arms 1 adjacent the forward extremities thereof, as is believed to be clearly shown in the accompanying drawings.

Secured to the marginal portions of the fabric 3 and directly to certain of the links, are the hook members 10 insulated from said links, as indicated at 11, and such hooks are con-- nected in multiple with the electrical conductor 12 leading from a suitable source of electrical energy E whereby it will be perceived that upon the hooks 10 coming in contact with. a mine or a lead wire thereof, such mine will be caused to explode and thus reduce to a minimum the possibility of injury to the vessel.

Itis also to be observed that free corners of the fabric 3 are provided with the weighted members 14 which serve to assure the fbric maintaining its operative position below the water-line,

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a guard concarried by the vessel V,

the outer or.

structed in accordance with my invention is bled, and it will also be obvious that my in-.

vention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and.

for this reason I 'do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the recise arrangement and formation of t e several parts herein shown in carrying out my in- 'vention in practice.

- i I claim: of an extremely simple and comparatively In combination with a. vessel, arms pivota-lly engaged therewith and projecting forwardly thereof, extensions pivotally engaged with the arms, a chain fabric secured to the extensions, and means common to the 20 arms and the extensions for elevating said arms and extensions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

AUSTIN M. EVANS. Witnesses:

D. S. HENDERSON. D C 

